“Alaafin is a paramount ruler. We should not make laws for political convenience. We should make a law that can stand the test of time.”
The Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed an amended Chieftaincy Law, replacing the proposed permanent chairmanship for the Alaafin of Oyo with a rotational system among the Alaafin, Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Soun of Ogbomosoland. The decision followed recommendations from the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
Lawmakers Olorunpoto Rahman (Oyo East) and Gbenga Oyekola (Atiba) staged a walkout, protesting the lack of public hearings. “We should make laws that align with history, not political convenience,” Rahman argued, maintaining the Alaafin’s paramount status. The Assembly also approved 13 council chairmen, including Ibadan’s Otun and Osi Olubadan.
The amendment marks a reversal from earlier proposals to cement the Alaafin’s position. Critics allege the process excluded key stakeholders. “No one from Oyo was invited to speak on this bill,” Rahman noted, questioning the committee’s transparency. The new rotation system takes immediate effect despite the objections.
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